NRM Announces Adjumani West By-Election Roadmap as Party Reports Strong Performance in Grassroots Elections

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission has unveiled a roadmap for the party's primary elections ahead of the forthcoming Parliamentary and Local Government Council by-elections in Adjumani West Constituency, Adjumani District.

The roadmap was announced today by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, as the ruling party continues to organise its grassroots structures following the recently concluded Women Council Committee and Local Council II elections.

The statement also provided preliminary results from the Women Council Committee elections held at parish level on August 7 and the Local Council II chairperson elections conducted on August 10, with the NRM claiming a strong showing in both contests.

The latest developments are expected to shift political attention to Adjumani West, where the party is preparing to identify candidates who will carry the NRM flag in the forthcoming by-elections.

NRM reports 94.5 percent performance in Women Council elections

According to the NRM Electoral Commission, the National Electoral Commission conducted elections for Women Council Committees at parish level on August 7, 2026, across 10,717 parishes.

The NRM said preliminary results obtained from 135 of the country's 146 districts showed that its candidates had secured 47,405 positions out of the 50,175 positions for which results had been received and compiled at the time of the statement.

This represents approximately 94.5 percent of the positions covered by the preliminary figures.

Independent candidates were reported to have won 1,688 positions, representing 3.4 percent, while candidates affiliated with other political parties secured 389 positions, equivalent to 0.7 percent.

Results for a further 693 positions, representing 1.4 percent, were still pending when the NRM issued the statement.

The party described the preliminary figures as evidence of strong grassroots support and congratulated its candidates, members, agents and supporters for what it termed a successful performance.

The NRM Electoral Commission, however, noted that the figures remained preliminary as compilation of results from the remaining areas was still continuing.

Party puts LC II performance at about 85 percent

The NRM has also reported a strong performance in the Local Council II chairperson elections held on Monday, August 10, 2026.

The elections were conducted by the National Electoral Commission across the country, with the compilation and verification of results still ongoing.

While the NRM Electoral Commission did not provide a detailed district-by-district breakdown, it said preliminary figures showed that NRM candidates had secured approximately 85 percent of the LC II chairperson positions.

The party described the preliminary results as further evidence of what it called "grassroots victories."

The NRM Electoral Commission congratulated its candidates, supporters and grassroots structures, while calling for continued mobilisation and participation in the subsequent stages of the local government electoral process.

The reported performance in the Women Council and LC II elections gives the party a significant political narrative as it moves into the next phase of its internal electoral programme.

Attention shifts to Adjumani West

With the recent grassroots elections largely concluded, the NRM Electoral Commission has now turned its attention to the Adjumani West Parliamentary by-election and an associated Local Government Council by-election.

The Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of the former Member of Parliament for Adjumani West Constituency, Gen. Moses Ali.

The NRM Electoral Commission said that following the declaration of the electoral vacancy, it established a programme to identify candidates who will represent the party in the forthcoming contests.

The positions for which the party is seeking flagbearers include the Member of Parliament for Adjumani West Constituency and the Sub-county Female Councillor representing Older Persons for Pachara Sub-county.

The party's internal electoral process is intended to produce candidates who will subsequently be nominated to contest under the NRM banner.

NRM releases timetable for primaries

The roadmap released by the NRM Electoral Commission sets out a series of activities leading to the selection of the party's flagbearers.

The programme begins with a press briefing on August 11, 2026.

Expression of interest and collection of nomination forms for aspirants is scheduled to take place from August 10 to August 14.

Formal nominations are scheduled for August 17 and 18, followed by the drawing of campaign programmes on August 19.

According to the roadmap, joint campaigns will then run from August 20 to September 1, giving aspirants an opportunity to mobilise members of the party's electoral college ahead of polling.

The party has also scheduled an update and cleaning of the voters' register between August 20 and August 31.

Polling and announcement of the results are scheduled for September 3, 2026.

Successful candidates are expected to be formally nominated as NRM flagbearers at the district headquarters on September 7 and 8.

The timetable places the Adjumani West contest among the next major internal electoral activities for the ruling party as it seeks to consolidate its representation at parliamentary and local government levels.

Requirements for Parliamentary aspirants

The NRM Electoral Commission has also outlined eligibility requirements for individuals seeking the party's ticket for the Adjumani West Parliamentary seat.

An aspirant must be a Ugandan citizen, be at least 18 years of age and be a registered member of the NRM.

The aspirant must also possess a minimum academic qualification of an Advanced Level certificate or its equivalent.

The party further states that prospective candidates must not be employed by an organisation wholly owned by the Government and must not be serving in the armed forces or security services.

This includes members of the Army, Police and Prisons Service.

Aspirants must also be registered voters with the National Electoral Commission and must not be cultural leaders.

The expression of interest fee for the Parliamentary position has been set at Shs3 million, which the NRM Electoral Commission describes as non-refundable.

The requirements are intended to guide prospective aspirants before they submit their applications and participate in the party's internal selection process.

Requirements for Older Persons councillor seat

The party has set separate eligibility requirements for the Sub-county Female Councillor representing Older Persons in Pachara Sub-county.

An aspirant for the position must be a Ugandan female aged 18 years or above and must be a registered member of the NRM.

The candidate must not be a civil servant and must be registered as a voter with the National Electoral Commission.

The expression of interest fee for this position is Shs20,000, also described by the party as non-refundable.

Women Council sub-county primaries scheduled for August 12

Meanwhile, the NRM Electoral Commission has announced that Women Council primaries at sub-county level will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

The party has clarified that participation in these primaries will be based on an electoral college system.

According to the NRM Electoral Commission, members of Parish Women's Committees within the respective sub-county who are NRM members will be eligible to contest and vote.

A representative of women with disabilities, elected from among female persons with disabilities in the sub-county through their recognised structures and who is an NRM member, will also be eligible to contest and vote.

Unlike a general election involving all registered voters, the internal NRM exercise will be restricted to members of the designated electoral college.

The party has further indicated that voting will be conducted through the lining-up method.

NRM to continue issuing election updates

The NRM Electoral Commission said it will continue releasing periodic updates on the progress of the Women Council elections at subsequent levels.

The commission has also urged all interested aspirants and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the electoral programme and comply with the requirements and timelines.

The latest communication was signed by Dr. Tanga Odoi, Chairperson of the NRM Electoral Commission.

The announcement comes at a time when the NRM is intensifying its grassroots electoral activities following the Women Council Committee and Local Council II elections.

The party's reported performance in the two elections is likely to form part of its mobilisation narrative as it heads into the next phase of internal elections.

For Adjumani West, the focus will now be on the aspirants seeking the NRM ticket, the internal campaign process and the eventual selection of the party's flagbearers for the Parliamentary and Local Government Council contests.

The September 3 polling date set in the NRM roadmap is therefore expected to be a key milestone in the party's preparations for the Adjumani West by-election, while the subsequent nomination of successful candidates will pave the way for the wider electoral process.